Distributing device



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,313

F. TOOHEY DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1925 8-Sheets-Shet 1 Nov. 13, 1928.

F. TOOHEY DISTRIBUTING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filled Ranch 27, 1925 9 N I n 0% av I Nov; 13, 1928. 1,691,313

F. TOOHEY DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed March 2'7, 1925 B Sheets-Sheet 3 I\ q; Q y; *1 6 Q "I h A? 'lo 1-! l ,I '1 x '6 I l km N U \H II I i a I'm ill: I p I I a H %h I n l l l I l 1 I Q rib s i L E 5 E n5 i' fl Q R ||l 1 I R l x Q" a N I l it c5 \1 Inventor M a f I I at 017163 Nov. 13, 19 28. 1,691,313

I F. TOOHEY DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 firvantov v Nov. 13, 1928.

f F. TOOHEY DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1925 a Sheets-Sheet .5

Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,313

F. TOOHEY DISTRIBUTING DEVI GE Filed March 27, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 T11 U6 11hr attorney F. TOOHEY Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,313

DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1925 I 8 Sheets-sheaf. 8

Patented'Nov. 13,192 8. V p r 1,691,313

hearse stares PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK rooHnY, or sou'rrz AoTon, Mi ssAoHUsE'rrsAssIGNoR ro HARDINGIENGI- n nnnnve coivrrnrtv, or near Bosses, riAssAcr-wsnrrsn CORPORATION or MAs SACHUSETTS. r

nrsrnrnurrne DEVICE.

Application filed March 27, 1925. Serial Nov 18,838

My present invention relates to distribusociated with such machines to distribute the tors, and more particularly to an improved hides as they are fed from the weighting distributing device for distributing sheet device. I v material in accordance with the weight, In carrying out my present invention I thickness, or other measurable charac provide means adapted to be associated with tcristic thereof. 1 I 1 thegradingmechanism to predetermine the In the manufacture of leather from hides setting of a vertically movable elevator proor skins, an important step in the operation vided witha series ofsuperimposed shelves is the determination of the weight orthicle or bins, operating mechanism for .moving 1U ness of the hide or skin and the sorting said elevator.beingsimultaneously cont-rolled thereof into piles according to suchweight therewith. Thereis further provided means or thickness. Heretofore the determination for stopping the vertically movable elevator of the weight and thickness has been perin its predetermined setting position and in formed manually, an operator picking up alignment with a reciprocating carriage car- V l5 :1. skin or hide and folding it centrally rying a movable conveyorwhich acts as a and sliding the thumo and forcfingers over receivingtable onto which the hide or skin the hide, determining in this manner the is fed from the grading apparatus and from average thickness thereof. After having its which the hide or SklnlS automaticallydisweight or thickness determined, the operator charged into a predetermined shelf or bin ill would necessariiy'walk to a place where the in the elevator. Further means'is provided hide was to he placed in a pile and deposit for associating theconveyor with thegradthe same therein. In commercial practice, ing apparatus in such manner as to have hides or skins adapted for use in themanuthe conveyor move at the same rate of speed i'acture of shoe uppers havecbeen divided as the speed of the hide or skin passing into seven classes, running respectively from through the grader. .Again, the elevatoris.

light ladies to heavy mens and it has carried by its reciprocating frame Without been necessary to consign a considerable area relative movement. therebetween into a rpooi floor space for each operator who dos sition within the elevator, and means is :pro termined the. weight or thickness of the vided for imparting relative movement to 30 hides or skins. In prior-machines for dethe conveyor and reciprocating frame 011 180 tor-mining the weight or thickness of hides the withdrawal of the frame from withinvthe and skins, several operations are necessary elevator.- I to properly distribute the hides or skins The principal object of my invention, as they come from the weighting or grading therefore, is an improved distributor for machine and the distributing operation sheetmaterial. i therefor has required as much, and in some Another object of my invention is an iminstances, more floor space than was necesproved distributor for distributing sheet sary under the old plan of entirely manual material into piles according to theaverage operation of weight andthickness determinweight or thickness of the material. n 4 ing. Machines have been devised in which Other objects and novel features ofthe the operations of feeding hides in succesconstruction and arrangement of parts comsion from a plurality of hidesarranged in p using" myinvention will appear as the depiled or stacked relation on a portable horse scription of the invention progresses. or truck to an area measuring device where In the accompanying drawings illustrating the area of the hide or skin is stamped the preferred embodimentof my invention,

thereon and thence feeding the hide or skin Fig. l isa side elevation; through weighting machine where the Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of h average weight or thickness of thehide or central portion of Fig. "1; skin is determined and stamped thereon, and Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. 2, viewed 50 my present invention is adapted to be asnem'iea to right; 1

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1; F19;- 5 is a section on the Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of Fig. 2;

Fig; 7 isan endv view of Fig; 6;:

Fig: 8' is a sectional elevation on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9,-isan elevation looking tctheright.

in- Fig. .1: and at: the right handside thereof;

' Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9;

1 Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view on the line 1111 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detail;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion of'Fig: 9; i

14 is 'a side elevation of 'Figi 13';

Fig.15 is a sectional elevation on the line 1515"of* Fig; 13;

Fig: 16 is a sectional elevation on the line 7 is detail;

is a planview,

Fig. l'9 is a partial front elevation show? in'g-"the' weightingor" grading device, and 'Fig; 20 is a diagramaticshowing of the- -circuit controlling devices;

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates,

' generally, a= weiglitin'g or grading machine, Jtliis device including a mechanism 115 for indicating the thickness or weight of hides I orskinsor other sheet material fed there through and under the rolls 12. The weightzontal arm 142. To the upper edgeofthe amt-142 and disposedcentrally thereoffis a lug l l3- to which is attached the lower'end of' an operating chain 144. Theupper end of the operating" chain" 144 is connected to the lower: end of anadjustably mounted bar 145 I rotatably 'mounted inanarm 146; Theganni 146' is -piv'otally attached at 147 to any convenientportion: of the frame of the measur- I ing machine, andsu'ch amn is provided with an adj ustably mountedcounterweight 148, at

one endgand with a segmental gear quadrant 149' at the' other end The segmental gear quadrant 1 l-9 mesheswithandidrives a pin ion 150 secured to a: shaft. 151 that is rotat-' ably mounted in suitable hearings in the 7 frame of the weighting and grading ma- 7 Also secured toltheshaft 151 is an '65 indicating hand or pointerrl52f-which is aschine.

line 55 of out the length of the frame.

sociated with a graduated scale 153 to visually indicate the character of the material passing under the rolls 12. Also secured to "the shaft 151 is a sprocket 103 which will be hereinafter referred to.

Associated with the weighting and grading machine is a prmtmg mechanism indicated generally by 13. As the details of the weighting and grading machine form no-part-. ofzmy invention, they will=not bedescrabedm detail. The left'handend of the weighting and grading machlne shown in Fig; 1' is the delivery end, and adjacent to such delivery end is an apparatus com,- P11S6Cl 0f' side-frames 14c spaced apart from each other by rods or bars 15 secured in posi- 'tionon the-side frame members by'nuts 16.

At the top of each of the side frame members Mare upwardly extending portions 17 i and in each of said'portions are secured stub shafts 18,- these' shafts being spaced apart from, and parallel to, each other. Rotat'ably mounted on each of the stub shafts 18 on the inner face of the member 17 are flanged pulleys or rollers 19. A rectangular frame comprised of end members 20, side members 21, and diagonals 22. is mounted for movement betweenthe pairs of rolls 19, the side members 21 being in engagementwith the flangedwheels- I Secured to the end members ,20'and lying parallel to, but spaced apart from, the side members are angle members 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and secured to such angle members and extending downwardly fromthe rectangular frame are racks-2t which extend substantially throughthe-fr-ame andin-the side members21' isro tatably mounted a roller 25* and over the rollers are a plurality of-parallelly arranged endlessbelts 26 forming an endless conveyor. On one of the outside endless belts 26 are a pluralityoflaterally projecting teeth 27 for a purposetobe hereinafter described. At the rear end* of the reciprocating frame and sec-uredto oneend of the roller 25 isa-gear 28' adapted tomesh with, andbe driven by, agear 29 mountedfor rotation on a shaft in the rear or delivery end 'ofthe frameof'the weighting and grading machine 10; Also secured to said last namedshaft-isagear 30 adapted to mesliwit h, and be driven'by, a gear '31: secured to a shaft 32 rotatably mounted inthe weighting and grading. ma-

chine 10, andfon' this shaft 32 is a-pulleyvv 33 over whichrunsabelt 3 t leading from the driving mechanismof the weighting and grading machine or from any convenient source of power.v l Vhen'the gcars28 and 29- are in mesh, asabove described, movement 'Will b'e imparted to-the upper reach of the conveyor composed ofthe-endlesshelts 26 in the'direction of the arrow shown, for-example, in Fig. 2, the speed oftheconveyor belt being equal to the speed at which the hides or skins-or other sheet materialgis d.e--

At each end of livered from the weighting and gradingmachine 10.

Formed integral with the right hand side. 9 frame member 14, as viewed 1n 1F lgs. 1, 2,

and 3, spaced apart and parallel thereto is an auxiliary: member 35, (and rotatably mounted in the upper end of the auxiliary member 35 and the upper memberv of the frame members 14 is a shaft 36 lying beneath and parallel to tl eroller 25. Secured on the shaft 36 are clutch members 38 and Eli) lit)

39 respectively, the opposing faces of these clutch members being provided with long-n tudinally extending holes 40, and adapted-to.

receive either end of a clutch pin 41 carried by a clutch member 1 that is slidable ombut rotatable with, the shaft 36. The slidable clutch member 42 hasits hub portion d3 provided adjacent to each end with circumferential grooves 44- adapted to be engaged by spring pressed plungers.

mounted in the clutch members 38 and 39, and the engagement .Of the circumferential grooves as by the spring pressed plungers d5 normally maintains the. clutch member 12 in engagement witheither the clutch member 88 or the clutchmember 39. Carried by the front and rear cross bars and downwardly depending therefrom are clutch operating devices 46 and 4Trespectively, these clutch operating devices being moved alternately into engagement with the sliding clutch member 42 to move the same in such manner as to bring the same into engagement alternately with the clutch members 38 and 89. ,1 m V Formed on the clutch members 88 and 39 are gears 18 respectively, and these gears are equal in pitch and diameteix. The gear 18 meshes with, and is driven by, the gear 50 secured to a shaft 51 mounted in suitable bearings in the right hand side frame member 1-1 and the member 35. shaft 51 is a gear 52 which meshes with, and is driven by, a gear 53, rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 that is, in turn, rotatably mounted in suitable bearings. One face of the gear 53 is provided with a plurality of.

circularly arranged holes 55 in which fit pins 56 carried by a sliding clutch member 57 forming part of a one revolution clutch. The pins 56 slide through agear 58' equal in diameter and'p tch to the gear [3, and one of the pins 56 is provided with groovesor notches 59in Whichfits a spring pressed Secured to theplunger 60 carried-by the gear 58, the plunger 60 and grooves 59 cooperating to hold the pins 56 either in or out of'ei'igagement withthe gear .53 under normal conditions.

The gear 5 8meshes with, and is driven by,

gear tilmountcd on, and driven by, the drivmg shaft of a motor that 15 mounted on a platforn'rti l. Secured .tothe outer end of the shaft is an arm 68 to which ispivot-- ally attached the plunger arn'iature 69 of. a solenoid TO. lliounted on the side frame members of the weighting and. grading machine 10 andat the rear end thereof are bearing brackets 71 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 72. Secured to said shaft between the bearings/Z1 is a bell crank arm 118 on which is the rotatably'mountcd rollor 119, the plane in which lies the top surface of the Weighting and gradingmachine being to the roller 119. Secured to one end of the shaft 72 is an arm 129 which,

when the roller 119 is in the normal position above indicated, occupies the posfltion indicate'dby a in the drawings. The arm 129 carries, adjacent to its outer free end, a contact plate 121 adapted to be brought into engagement with contact pins or points and 123 Vsimultaneously,whichcontact pins or points are connected by suitable conductors to a source of powerand to the solenoid 70. Also secured to the shaft 72, and preferably at the endiemote from the arm 120, is another arm 124, which arm is provjded, intermedh ate its ends, with a contact plate 125 adapted to enga e with contacts 12-6 and 127 simultaneousiy. Pivotally attached to the outer free end of the arm121 is a plunger armature 128 of a solenoid 129that is secured to theframe of the weighting and grading maa radially extending arm 130 provided at -1tsouter free end with a contact plate 131' that is insulated from the main portion of the arm. lvlounted adjacent to the contact plate .181 are contacts 132 and 133 respectlVfily. The contact 132 is connected by con ductor 13-1 to the contact 127, while the con tact. is connected to or of the solenoid129 is connected to the con tact through any suitable source of power the battery The position of the shaft 5d and associated clutch operating device 57' in this position it willflbe noted that'the con tact plate 131 is adjacent tothe ends of the" contacts 132 and 133, though in engagement therewith- Alsoit will be noted from an inspection ofFig'. 20 that the contactplate 121 is maintained out of engagement with the contacts 122 and 123because of the fact e end of the sole. noid 129 by conductor 185. L The other end ca Y can

that thB'rlOllGlllQziS inneutralposition and, further, thatthe contact plate 125 is. out of engagement with the.contacts 126 and 127.

Under these conditions it is obvious that, if

a hide or skin, as 136, ismoved tothe left of'FigsJl and 2,.such hideorskin, engaging with the roller 119, willmove said roller upward, orinto the position indicated by the letter 0. In this position, also, the member 124-will move to the position indicated by" the letter d, ormove the c ntact plate 125 further away'from the contacts 126 and 127.

lf now, the skin has passed beyond the roll-- er 1 19, such roller will drop from the posi tron indicated by 0 into the position 1I1Cll- 'cated by e and the arm 120 will move into the position indicatedby f, brmgmg the contact: plate-121 into engagement w1th the contacts 122 and123, complet-ing'in this-manner an energizing circuit through the source of power 7 5 for the solenoid 70, WlllCll thereupon forces the-plungerarmature 69 downwardly and allows'rotation of the shaft 65, bringing the member. 66 intoengagement with the clutch member 5'7.

The one way clutch is, therefore,operated andbegins to rotate for onelrevolution in thedirection of the arrow shown. Gontact'plate 121 engages contacts 122 and l23ibefore theeontact plate 125 engages contacts 126 and 127. Immediately after the shaft'54 startsto rotate, the radially extending arm 130 willmovethe contact plate 131 off the contacts-1 32 and 133 so that,

whenthe contact plate 125is moved into engagementwith the: contacts 126 and 127, no circuit will be completed atthis time for the solenoid 129. The shaft 54, completing its revolution, will, just before the revolution is completed, move the c0ntact1plate131 into engagement. with the contacts 132 and 133,

thus completing the circuit through the source of power for thesolenoid 129 which-will rotate the shaft? 2 so as to bring the roller 119 back into the neutral or'normal position, as above referred to. This sequence of operations will take place indefi nitely as the hides 136 are fed under the.

roller 119. The gear 50 meshes with, and drives, an idler gear 73 secured to a countershaft 74 that is rotatably' mounted in suit-- able'bearings in the'righthand side of the framemember 14 and'the member .35. Also secured to the countershaft 74 1s a gear 7 5 that meshes with a gear 49 formed on the.

)ositionshown in Fi s. 1 and 2 the clutch.

operating member 46 carried thereby had moved the clutch member 42 into engagement. w th the clutch member 39. There- "fore under these conditions, the frame 21 will be moved to the left, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2. The train-of gears is also proportioned so that one revolution of the shaft 54 will-move the frame 21 its full travel to the left, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,at which position, or the positionshown in Figs. 1

and 2.

At. the left hand end ofthe. mechanism as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, carried by the frame members 14 is a vertically arranged rectangular frame 76, as shown in Figs. 1

and 4. At each corner of the rectangular I frame 76 are vertically arranged anti-frictionrollers 7 7 and adaptedto move in a ver-.

tical plane on such rollers is a second rectangiila'r frame 7 Scarrying a'plurality of parallell arranged superimposed shelves 79, these shelves being spaced apart from each other any appropriate distance. lifounted on the rectangular frame 76 is a motor 80 provided onits driving'shaft with a pinion 81. Carried by the rectangular frame '78 is a bracket 82 having rotatably mounted thereon andspaced apart from each. other gears 83 and 84 respectively, which'are equal in pitch and'diameter and which mesh with thevertieally arranged rack 85 secured to the rectangular frame 78. 84 rotate normally in the direction of the arrow shownin Fig. 9, and meshing with the gear 83 is a pinion 86, also rotatably mounted in the bracket 82, andwhich gear is adapted to engage with the pinion 81 on the motor 80, which motor rotates in the directionof the arrow shown in Fig. 9. The bracket 82 isslidably mounted on a shaft 87 that is rotatably mounted in bearings 88 *and Y89 secured to the rectangular frame 76; The shaft 87 is located atone side of the frame 78 and is provided along its length with a plurality of adjustable radially extending arms 90, the bracket 82, as willbe seen from an inspection of Fig. 9, having a vertical movement with the shaft 87, the amount of movement of the bracket and shaft being limited by the bearing 88. Carried by the frame 7 8 is a lug 91 which, as will be seen inFig. 11, has a path of movementin a line with the predetermined radially projecting arms carried by the shaft 87, and the continued; upward movement of rectangular frame 7 8, after having been brought into engagement with the se- The gears 83 and moving'the pinion 86' out of engagement with the pinion 81 of the motor 80 and moving the gear 84 in engagement with said motor, this movement, however, only taking place after a predetermined length of time,

or not until. after a desired sequence of operations has taken place. Secured to the shaft87 adjacentto the lower end thereof and above the lower end of the radially'extending arms 90 is a collar. 92 from which projects a radially ex-' tending pin 921. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 87 between the collar 92and the lower radially extending arm 90 is a sprocket 941, and secured to, and extending upwardly from, such sprocket is a pin 93. Secured to the bearing 89 is an outwardly and upwardly extending arm 891 which is adapted to be engaged by the lowermost radially extending arm 90 when such arm, and there-' fore the shaft '87, is in the normal or zero position. Also, when the collar 92, shaft 87, and sprocket 94' are in the normal or zero position, the radially extending pin 921 of the collar 92 is in engagement with the upwardly extending pin 93 on said sprocket. Mounted 011 the support for the entire apparatus or in'any other manner desired, is a vertically mounted shaft 95 having secured thereto a sprocket 96, and over the sprockets 96 and 94- runs, a chain 97. Secured to the shaft 95 is a bevel pinion 98 which meshes with, and is drivenby, a bevel pinion 99 secured to one end of a shaft 10st that is rotatably mounted in bearings 100, this shaft extending forwardlyand terminating at a point adjacent to ;-t-he weighting and grading machine 10. secured to the end of the shaft 104; adjacent to the weighting and grading machine 10 is a sprocket 101over which passes a chain 102 leading from, and driven by, a sprocket, 103 controlled by the indicating mechanism associated with the weighting and grading machine. The amount of rotation imparted to the sprocket 108 by a sheet of leather or other material passing through the grading machine will determine the.

amount of rotation imparted to the shaft 87 through the pins 921 and 93 respectively, and-will thus determine which. of the f radially extending arms 90 on the shaft 87 will be brought into the path of movement of the bracket 91 carriedby the rectangular frame 78. Secured. to the shaft 87 adjacent to the lower end thereof carriedby the'lowor hearing 89 and insulatedtherefrom is a commutator plate 105. Secured to the'lower radially extending arm 90 1s asprlng pressed contact pin 106 which is insulated from the arm 90 and is adapted to bemovedinto' and out of engagementwith the come mutator plate 105 on rotation of, the shaft.

87. As. will be seen from an'inspection of.

Fig. 15, the commutator plate 105 doesnot extend entirely around the upper surface of the bearing 80, and the normal position'of the pin .106 shown in such figure. The 'contactpin 106 and commutator plate 105 constitute break points in the energizing circuit for the motor 80, and it will be obvious that, immediately after the shaft 87 has been started in rotation by the chain 97,

the circuit for the motor will be closed and the rectangular frame78will-begin its upward movement. The setting of the radial arms '90 and the starting ofthe motor take place practically. simultaneously, but the upward travel of therectangular frame 78 is so proportioned that practically an en tire revolution of the shaft 87 may take place before the bracket 91- carried by the frame 78 reaches the position occupied by the lowermost. radially extending arm 90.- As the sprocket 103, associated with the indicating mechanism 11 of the weighting and grading machine 10, returns to normallposition si multaneously Wlth the return to normal of the indicating device, provision has been madefor allowing independent movement "of the sprocket 94 and shaft 89 to their nor 110 that maintains it out .ofengagement with the ratchet 107. The spring 108 is so woundv and arranged with respect to the.-

shaft- 87 that rotation of the shaft 87 in a; clockwise direction tensions the spring 108 sothat' this spring tendsto rotate the shaft 87 in an anti-clockwise direct-ion and this. anti-clockwise movement is. limited by' the .engagementof the lowermost arm .90 with the stop or bracket 891. Thepawl 109' has formed integral therewith an arm 111 which extendsldownwardly land in the path. of movement of the rack carried by'the frame 78. The arm 111Jand rack- 85 are so arranged relative toeachv otherthat the shaft 87 need only be slightlyraisedbefore engaging with the-arm 111 and therefore move the pawl 109 into engagement with shaft 87 and arms carried thereby in the position to which it may have been moved by the-sprocket 91. -.when.u1e shaft87has been moved downwardly and just beforeiit reaches its normal position, and rack 85 will move out of engagement with the arm 111 andthe spring 110' willforceuthe pawl 109 out of engagement with the ratchet 107 the ratchet1107 and thus maintaining the and the spring 108,:theref-ore, will rotate the shaftr87 inian ant-i clockwise direction until-the lowermostarm 90 .=.engages with the step 891- ;Itis:obvius,also, that, when the bracketQl-on the frame 78 has engaged with the predetermined. radially extending arm 90 and: moved the shaft '87. and associated parts I upward, the contact pm 106 will move out of engagement with the commutator segment- 105, thusihreaking the energizing circuit for the-:moto-r 80and stOppingthe rotation of its shaft so: that, whenuthegear 84 is brought into meshxwith the pinion 81,110 downward movementof-the frame 78 will takeplace I -until the unloading operation of the con veyorfldhasibeen completed. Thehide or skinor. other material. of. sheet metal, having passed :the mdicating mechanism of the weighting and grading device, will also. pass under: thep-rinting mechanism 13- where the average weight. .or thickness'ofthe hide will tion of such. shaft. .lVhen "the rectangular.

frame wineries-upwardly, the rack memher moves into engagement :withthe roller 112 inxa bracket .113 secured. to the: rectangu- I largframe 75. ;Referring to Fig. :12,.it will be seen that the inward movement. of the roller 112 willcausethe engagement of a contact .11 1: carried'by the bearingthereof with the;-contact .115 carried on the bracket 118,. This closesa' hreak point in alsecond energizing circuit for the motor 80i The motor -8.0lis=not, howeverpenergimd at this as {suchenergizirig circuit has in it a pair of bPBfikipOlntS .116 and 117 controlled by; the reciprocating frame carrying the con-' veyor 26. .illhe operation of the clutch 57 hy'ithe member 66 allowspower tube tranmittedxthrough the train of gears above describedtothe gear .49, whereupon the shaft 86 is rotated inian..anti=clockwise direction, and the gears '37, meshing with the rack 24, mo-v'esthe rectangular frame to the left, as shownrin Figs. .1 and :2, and .moving said frame land/the hide or skin thereon above thezp'redetermined shelf 79'in thc rectangn larframeT-S. :As above described, the train off-gears for reciprocating the rectangular frame -is sozproportioned that the rectangular -.fna-1ne is: moved to its extreme left position shown'in Figs. 1; and 2;during. the half revolution .ofrthe: shaft 5 1. YMounted on the rectangular frame .78 below each of: the shclvesi'ifi and adjacent :to the portion of v'\/ oifthe-commutator segment 105, hreakin neonate:

the machine'lying inlthe line of'movement of the belt 26 carrying the laterallyjprojecting teeth 27 is a pivotally mounted pawl 117 which is adapted, as will be seen from an inspection ofFi 17 to allow the rectangular frame carryingthe conveyor is moved to the right insaidl igs. 1 :and 2. Therefore, in the fmovement to the right of the rectangularframe carrying the conveyor, such conveyor .will be held stationary by the engagment of thepawl 117with one of the laterallyprojecting teeth 27 and relative movement willbe imparted tothe conveyor on the movement to the right of such rectangular frame, thereby.depositing-the hide or skin that rested on the conveyor onto the next lower shelf. l The. operation ofmy improved apparatus is as follows, "it bein assumedthat the parts have been constructed and arranged as above described and that the hides or skins 136 are being fed through the weighting and grading machine lOfrom wright to'left viewed in 1. The average weight or thickness ofthe :hide or skin-as it passed underthe rolls'12'is indicated on the mechanism 11, andf'associat-ed with the rotating shaft 1510f such indicating mechanism is thesproclret 1.03-whichnaturally rotates in synchronism with the shaft 151 and imparts a predetermined movement to the vertical shaft 87, which shaft positions-one or the to p other of the vertically movable members 91 attached to the frame 78. As soon astie shaft 87 starts to rotate, the contact .106 moves into'engagement with the commutator segment 105, closing an energizing cir= Quit forthe motor 80 whicln rotating,transmits throughtthe gears SS-and 83 power to the rack 85, causing an upward movement of the rectangular frame 78 and this upward I movement will continue until the. f positioned radially ext-ending arm is engaged by the bracket "91'which will move the shaftl87 upward until; thebracke; 82

engages with the under face of the bearing 88. This upwardv movement of the shaft 87 moved the .gear 86 out ofengagement witlithe gear 81, thus disconnecting the motor 80-from such gear an'd as the shaft 87 moved upward, the contact pin 1G6 mo d the energizing cir.cuit for the motor S Also, the gear 4 moved into-mesh with the gear 81on-thedriving shaft of the motor. Therectan'gular frame'78 is now brought to'rest with 'the-proper shelf thereon in position toallow'the rectangular frame carrying the conveyor 26 tomo-ve between it and the adjacent shelf. When the shaft 87 moved upward, the side of the rack member 85 engaged with the roller .112 on the member 113, moving the contact 114 into engagement with the contact 115 and closing a break point in a second energizing circuit for the motor 80. y

The weighting and grading machine being in operation, the t'ain oi gears 33, 30, and

29 are rotated by the belt 8-11; and the gear 1 28 carried at the end oi the rectangular frame, on which is mounted the coi'iveyor 26, is. rotating so as to move the upper reach of the conveyor 28 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and and at the same speed as the hide or skin 136 moving through the weighting'and grading 1nachine. As the rear end the hii passes under the printing mechanism 15-5, the average weight or thickness i e ated on the mechanism 11 is stamped onto the hide, being understood, of course, thatthe printing mechanism is associated with the in( cating mechanism infany desired man The hide 136 in its moven'ient to the left now passes under the roller 119 which drops from the position indicated y 0 into the position indicated by e in Fig. 20, bringin the contact plate 121 on the arm 120 int en agement with the contacts 122 and 123 and energizing the solenoid 70 which it'orces the plunger armature 69 upward, as viewed in such figure, and rotating the shaft soas to bring the member (56 into engagement with the clutch device 57. The lllfieOl 63 being in operation and its shaft rotating constantly, the shaft 5 1 is connected. thereto and rotates int-he direction of the arrow shown in Fig; 2 andwill continue its rotation through a single full revolution. 1mmediately the shaft 54 startsto rotate, the radially extending arm 130, carrying the contact plate 131, moves oli the contacts 132 and 133 an instant before the Contact plate 125 is moved into engagement with' the contacts 126 and 127 so that, although break points in the circuit for the solenoid 129 are closed at the contacts 126 and 127.,

such solenoid will n'ot'be energized because of the breaking of the circuit at contacts 132 and. 133. The clutch, 57 having been operated and the clutch member 412 being inengagement with the clutch member motion carries the gears 37, such gears rotating in the direction of the arrow shown inFig. 2, and meshing with the rack 24, moves the imparted to: the shaft 86 that rectangular frame carryingthe conveyor 26- to the left, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, thus placing the conveyor between adjacent shelves 79and in position with the desired shelf to deposit a hide or skin thereon. During this movement to the left of the conveyor, the laterally extending bars 27 pass freely by the pawl 117. As the con-- veyor reaches its extreme. outward position,

.11O forces the ratchet 109 out the clutch operating device .47 engages with the clutch member 42 and moves the same out of engagement with the clutch member 39 and into engagement with the clutch member 38. The clutch member 38 being termed integral with the gear 48, and this gear rotating in the reverse direction to the and 2, and on the starting of the rectai'igular frame to the right, one of the laterally extending bars 27 is engaged by th'e pawl 117 and the conve or 26 1S )revented from bodily movement to the right, .althoughzit is obvious that a relative movement between the conveyor 26 and its carrying rectangular frame takes place, thismovement resulting in the depositing 01" the hide or skin on the predetermined shelf 79. hen the rectangular trame reaches its normal or initial po. tion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,.the, r 28 is again brought'into mesh with the gear 29 and movement imparted to the conveyor 26. asabove described. Further,

the bringing of the conveyor and rectanguirame to the initial positioncauses the engagement of the contact 116 with the con tact 117, closing the second break in the second ei'iergizing circuit for. the motor 80,

the first break point having been closed at the contacts 114 and115 whenthe shaft 87 reached its uppermost position. This com pleting oi the secondenergizing circuit for the motor 80 causes it to start in motion and the gear 84, being at this time in engagement with the motor, a downward movement will continue lar frame '78 has reached itslowermost position; we 'd' movemenhthe arm 111 moved'oli the top of the rack member andth'cspring ment with the ratchet 107,

until the rectangu As the shaft S7started on its downno of *engage'- whereupon the spring 108 rotated the shaft'87 back toits normal position, or until the lower radially extending arm 90 engaged with the stop arm 891 so that, when the rectangularframe 78 has reached its lowermost position, the contact 10c carried thereby is broughtto rest out'ot engagement with the commutator segment 105. As the shafted approaches its full revolution, the contact plate 131 carrieiil contacts 152 anoint), completing the circuit forthe by the arm 130 engages with the solenoid 1.29 which, being energized, its plunger armature128 moves the arm 124 in the direction to rotate the shaft 72 and bring the roller 119' into a position intermediate the positions indicated by c and ein Fig. 20. This movementof the arm' 124 movesthc contact plate 121 out of engagement with the contacts 122 and 123 and breaking the energizing circuit for the solenoid :70, allowing the clutch operatingmember- G6 to move out of operative engagement with the clutch. member ,57. Tiheabove sequence of operations is repeated indefinitely during the operationof the machine. I I

I have, in thisspecificati In, described my invention as being particularly applicable to the sorting of hides or skins into groups according to the Weight or thicknessthereof. This, however, has'been merely for ,illustrative purposes only and it is obvious that my invention is applicable to the sort-- 'ing of any sheetmaterialinto predetermined groupsinaccordance with the area thereof or with any other characteristic of the sheet material. invention, therefore, is applicable for con o1nt use with an area measuring machine'or a maclnne wh ch determines the-degree ofhardness or softness of the -material, such machines either being equipped with ind cating mechanism for m dicating the area orthedegree of hardness ot the material, for example, or which ma- 1 sheet material thereon.

chines may be equipped With-such indicatmg mechanisms, the setting or" such lIlCll eating mechanisms controlling the setting of the elements of the present invention.

While I have, therefore, necessarily shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention somewhat in detail, it is to be understood that I may varythe size, shape,

and arrangement of parts Within Wide limits Without departing invention. I z p I Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim as new is:'- l

1. An improved distributing device for sheet material, comprising a verticallym0vable rack having a plurality of shelves, means for positioning'said shelves in accord ance with the thickness of the sheet material, and means for automatically depositing the 21in improved distributing device for hides or skins, comprising a rack having a plurality of shelves adapted for the reception ot hides or skins of differing thickness,

-'a"conveyor, means for depositing on said conveyor hides 0r skins regardless of the thickness thereof, means associated with the rack for positioning any shelf thereof at the delivery end of the conveyor in accord- ''ance with the average thickness as deter mined by the hide depositing means, and means for automatically operating the conveyor to deposit a hide or skinon the shelves.

An improved hide distributing device having, in combination, a means tordeterminingthe average thickness of a hide or skin, a verticallymovable rack having a plurality of shelves thereon, means for pos1- tioning said raclncontrolling means therejfor operable by; the average thickness deter from the spirit or the mining means, a conveyor for receivingsaid hides or slnns andlmeans "for operating said conveyor to. deposit alhide or :skin' on a predeterminedshelf of therack, i

,4. la a distributing device, the combina tion of a rack, a plurality of shelves therein and arranged in vertical relatiommeans ffQl moving said rack vertically, and means for predetermining the vvertical movement otzfthe rack. 7 1 5. In a distributing device, the combina- ,tion of a verticallymovable rack, a ;plurality of shelves therein and vertically arranged with respect to each othencalshaft, a a

plurality of radially extending armsitheres on, meanstor rotating, said shalt to any dcsired angle, means for moving said rack vertically, and meanson saidrack :fOlzGH- 1 gaging with a predetermined.OnemtltheraT dially extending arms for llllllllllngufilld 2131'? means associated with said rack :fonposn tioningany desired shelf in, alignmentwvitli I the reciprocating conveyor, operating means 0 between the average thickness indicating means and the vertically movable; rack for determining the positioning of ashelf on said rack at the delivery end oftheconveyor in accordance With the average; thicknessot the 05' hide passingtlnionglrthe indicating means, means contrclledby the hide or skin after its passage through the indicating :means for controlling the reciprocatingmovement of the conveyor,andmeansifor au-tomatically moving saidconveyor out of engagement With the rack.

7. An improved distributing device for sheet material comprising a plurality o'f-superimposed shelves, and a single horizontally 11'5 movable conveying means for automatically depositing on said shelves the sheet material arranged in groups in i accordance with the predetermining characteristics :thereof.

8. In a distributing device, thecombination of a conveyor, means for moving the same in a horizontal plane, a'w' ertical'ly-movable rack, aplurality of p'ar-alle'llyarranged shelves thereon, means "for movingsaid rack vertically to bring a predetermined their into horizontal alignment with-the conveyor, and means tor predetermming the vertical 'movement of the rack.

9. In a distributing device, the combination of meansfor indicating the character of 1 I sheet material, a distributing device, controlling apparatus associated with said means for operating the distributing device in accordance with the character of the material as determined bysaid means, and a conveyor operable to convey material from the character indicating device to the distributing device.

10. An improved distributing device for sorting sheet material, comprising a movable carrier having sheet receiving means corresponding to predeterminable characteristics of each sheet, in combination with mechanism to determine such characteristics of each sheet and to actuate said carrier into receiving position corresponding thereto.

11. An improved distributing device for sorting sheet material, comprising a movable carrier having sheet receiving means corresponding to predeterminable characteristics of each sheet, in combination with 'mecha nism to determine such characteristics of each sheet and to actuate said carrier into receiving position corresponding thereto during the continuous operation of the machine.

12. An improved distributing device for sorting sheet material, comprising a movablev carrier having sheet receiving means corre sponding to predeterminable characteristics of each sheet, in combination with mechanism to determine such characteristics of each sheet and to actuate said carrier into receiving position corresponding thereto during the continuous feeding of successive sheets to be sorted.

13. An improved distributing device for sorting sheet material, comprising a verti-,

cally movable carrier having sheet receiving means corresponding to predeterminable characteristics of each sheet, in combination with mechanism to determine such characteristics of each sheet and to actuate said carrier' into receiving thereto.

14. In a distributing device, horizontally position corresponding movable means for feeding sheet material, a v

Yertically movable means to receive and hold said material so fed, and means for producing relative movement between the material feeding and the material receiving means proportioned to varying characteristics of the material being operated on.

15 111 a distributing device, means for feeding sheet material, a vertically movable carrier to receive and hold said material so fed, and means for producing relative movement between thematerial feeding and the material receiving means determined by the varying characteristics of the material being operated on.

16. In a distributing device, means for determining the characteristics of sheet material, a movable carrier provided with means for receiving said sheet material, means for positioning the carrier in accordance with the characteristics of the material as determined by the first said means, and a conveying device associated with the first said means and said carrier. I

17. An improved distributing device to sort sheet material into groups according to the characteristics of such material, comprising a movable carrier having sheet receiving means corresponding to the predeterminable characteristics of each sheet, means said characteristics, mechanism associated therewith for POSltlOIb for predetermining FRANK TOOHEY. 

